Meeting |
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Report |
Meeting |
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Report |
November 6, 2001 |
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President Jim called the meeting to order at 12:45 p.m.
Herb Harriss began his introduction of visitors by making a snide remark to Dr. ZOOS (Tony
Zeiss) and proceeded to welcome our many guests (15) and visiting Rotarians (7)
to our Club. Ron Kimble gave the health and happiness report. He made us aware of the recent passing of John Phillips' father and asked that we keep their family in our thoughts and prayers. He also reported that Ralph Howey had suffered a stroke recently and was now feeling much better. President Jim led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Jeff Wise of the music committee first faked us out by pretending to play a song for us, then turned it over to his guest Christopher Cozad. He sang, with the aid of his guitar, a beautiful ballad called "The Good Life," which was most certainly enjoyed by all in attendance. Tim Saunders gave the invocation. Herb Klein made us aware of the upcoming "Doing Business with Poland" agenda sponsored by the Charlotte World Trade Association. For more information you may call Herb at 704-556-0577. President Jim introduced our head table, which included Jim Kothe, Pam Syfert, Andy Zoutewelle, Frank Martin, Tim Saunders and Tony Zeiss who introduced our program. Our topic for today was the Sugar Creek Greenway, and here to discuss the project was Wayne Weston, director of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Park and Recreation Department. Wayne Weston is a native of Hope-well, Virginia, a graduate of North Carolina State University, and he obtained his Masters from UNC-Chapel Hill. He was director of the Orange County, N.C., Park and Recreation Department from 1975-85 prior to becoming director here in Charlotte 17 years ago. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Park and Recreation (CM PR) is responsible for 170 parks and special facilities and 20 recreational centers, and employs over 500 people. The parks include over 13,500 acres in Mecklenburg County. Little Sugar Creek was named by the Sugare Indians many moons ago and they too had a problem with the stench as we still do today! Wayne amused us by showing a slide of ladies in the '30s fishing in the little creek and from the '40s a picture of a bridge over the creek with a barrel hanging from the underside toward the creek. It was a perfume barrel trying to sweeten the odor! Many prominent citizens have tried over the years to do something to enhance the creek's appearance and cleanliness. In 1943 Art Jones, then director of CM PR, led city council down the creek through the briars and such in search of land to form a park near the creek. What developed was the creation of Freedom Park. John Belk as mayor had his hand in looking for ways to improve the creek. Then there was Jerry Tuttle, and the creek became "Tuttle's Puddle" as nothing would work. Tom Ray led cleanup efforts in the '70s and Fountain Odum has spearheaded the land banking of creek land for the CM PR. Today, Wayne Weston is at the helm and is the visionary that will finally get something done, according to Tony Zeiss. Wayne formed the Sugar Creek Greenway Action Committee in April 2001. Sugar Creek has approximately 12.5 miles that would be ideal to develop into a continuous greenway through our city and county. A great greenway system enhances the livability of a community with hiking and hiking trails, closer access to a greater portion of our population than parks offer, connecting neighborhoods to one another, and promoting a health-conscious environment. Wayne's committee is charged with creating plans for this 12.5 miles and identifying a signature place along the creek that becomes a destination point for residents and visitors—becomes something to identify Charlotte. Currently the 7th-Street-to-Morehead-Street section of the creek is being researched as the spot to put this signature place. Wayne showed us many before and after pictures of other cities that had eyesore creeks or small rivers in their towns. He said most cities depend on private/corporate funding of 50 to 70 percent of the project costs, and cited Chattanooga and Pueblo as examples. Positives are that Mecklenburg County already owns approximately 58 percent of the needed property to develop and clean up Sugar Creek. We have people in our community such as Tony Zeiss who have prior experience in other cities. And the community as a whole is very interested in taking advantage of the amenities a green-way would offer. Two questions: "What is the park acreage per resident and how do we stack up?"—National standard is a little fuzzy because people measure in different ways, but 17 acres per thousand population is the average and Char-Meek is 15.5 acres. "What causes the pollution in the creek and what did the Indians do about all the pollution?"—Pollution is primarily from vehicle traffic above the railheads (inter-states and freeways) that trickles down to the creeks when it rains. The Indians moved! President Jim thanked Wayne for his presentation and adjourned our lunch with another much-deserved slam on N.C. State. * * * |
Charlotte Rotary Partners with At each Rotary meeting during the month of November, there will be a table set up outside the ballroom where you can bring your donations. If you have too many items to bring in, let us know and we will pick them up at your home. You will receive a receipt for tax-deduction purposes. Crisis Assistance Ministry has a need for the following items:
If you have any further questions, please call Jim Adams at (704) 377-6567 or Marilynn Bowler at (704) 424-4856. In the Rotary spirit of "Service Above Self," let's give generously this year to help families in need. * * * |
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Charlotte. All rights reserved.
Revised: January 24, 2008.
